You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Sunday, February 11 on or before 12:01am). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0. You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play is set in the Wasaychigan Hill Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island, Ontario in August 1986. The main characters revolve around eight women: Pelajia Patchnose, her sister Philomena, Marie-Adele, Annie Cook, who are their half-sisters, Emily Dictionary, Veronique, and Zhaboonigan.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Annie’s daughter tells the women about the Biggest Bingo In The World. Now, all the characters talk about their dreams and how they want it to come true if they win the bingo. Now, they decide to leave to Toronto and play in the Biggest Bingo In The World to try and win the $500,000.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is when they hear the news about the bingo and leave for Toronto. This thing happening is what causes the rest of the events to fall into place and happen the way they do so we are able to learn about the women’s lives and insight into their personal stories.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The dramatic questions are will any of the women win the $500,000 from the Biggest Bingo In The World? If not, how will any money they win change their lives at the reservation and Pelajia becoming chief? How does Marie-Adele’s death change the female dynamic with the rest of the women?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Nanbush, which is a symbolic character appearing in bird form, is at end of the play and dances on the roof by Pelajia. Although she doesn’t even know he is there, he is fulfilling her wish of him coming back and dancing and her wishes have come true. The reader is aware her wishes came true but none of the women are aware.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment is when Annie-Marie dies and also right before; right before she sees Nanabush in the form of a hawk and this is when the women talk about their stories and give each other a connection about the hardships of living on a reservation. When she dies, the women are losing at bingo. I see this as a kind of parallelism because in the end, there isn’t a good outcome while living in the present. When Nanabush comes to take her away, it symbolizes the Native American culture and spirituality that is important to most of the women.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Some themes include spirituality, abuse, overcoming hardships, poverty, dreams, Native American religion, and bonding with family.
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
All the characters have their own needs and wants which are mostly given to them by the end of the play. Pelajia has Nanabush come dance behind her, and she has hoped throughout the play to want him to give her company through her endeavors. Although she longs to leave the reservation, this does not happen, but she is given new hope to maybe become the chief of the land. Philomena wins the $600 to get a new toilet, which is something that gives her happiness and shows the realistic standpoint of these characters. Marie-Adele, when she dies, is taken into heaven where presumably she is in everlasting peace.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
Pelajia’s hammer, the toilet that Philomena wins, and Nanabush are good examples of images that help the play. All these images represent the inner wants of the characters. They relate to the title because as “sisters” they all have the family bond and relate with their own wants, and when they go play bingo, they can leave the reservation “rez” for a day to experience the world outside and participate in an exciting event.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
I think the way this play portrays family relationships is very realistic because they are all one family unit who are related in several different ways. They help each other get through each one’s problems and conflicts within themselves and externally. They all argue a lot throughout the play, and this helps show that even though they do this, they will be there for each other in the end. The image of Nanabush helps strengthen their spirituality and shows that they have each other when in need.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play is set in the Wasaychigan Hill Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island, Ontario in August 1986. The main characters revolve around eight women: Pelajia Patchnose, her sister Philomena, Marie-Adele, Annie Cook, who are their half-sisters, Emily Dictionary, Veronique, and Zhaboonigan.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Annie’s daughter tells the women about the Biggest Bingo In The World. Now, all the characters talk about their dreams and how they want it to come true if they win the bingo. Now, they decide to leave to Toronto and play in the Biggest Bingo In The World to try and win the $500,000.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is when they hear the news about the bingo and leave for Toronto. This thing happening is what causes the rest of the events to fall into place and happen the way they do so we are able to learn about the women’s lives and insight into their personal stories.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The dramatic questions are will any of the women win the $500,000 from the Biggest Bingo In The World? If not, how will any money they win change their lives at the reservation and Pelajia becoming chief? How does Marie-Adele’s death change the female dynamic with the rest of the women?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Nanbush, which is a symbolic character appearing in bird form, is at end of the play and dances on the roof by Pelajia. Although she doesn’t even know he is there, he is fulfilling her wish of him coming back and dancing and her wishes have come true. The reader is aware her wishes came true but none of the women are aware.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment is when Annie-Marie dies and also right before; right before she sees Nanabush in the form of a hawk and this is when the women talk about their stories and give each other a connection about the hardships of living on a reservation. When she dies, the women are losing at bingo. I see this as a kind of parallelism because in the end, there isn’t a good outcome while living in the present. When Nanabush comes to take her away, it symbolizes the Native American culture and spirituality that is important to most of the women.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Some themes include spirituality, abuse, overcoming hardships, poverty, dreams, Native American religion, and bonding with family.
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
All the characters have their own needs and wants which are mostly given to them by the end of the play. Pelajia has Nanabush come dance behind her, and she has hoped throughout the play to want him to give her company through her endeavors. Although she longs to leave the reservation, this does not happen, but she is given new hope to maybe become the chief of the land. Philomena wins the $600 to get a new toilet, which is something that gives her happiness and shows the realistic standpoint of these characters. Marie-Adele, when she dies, is taken into heaven where presumably she is in everlasting peace.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
Pelajia’s hammer, the toilet that Philomena wins, and Nanabush are good examples of images that help the play. All these images represent the inner wants of the characters. They relate to the title because as “sisters” they all have the family bond and relate with their own wants, and when they go play bingo, they can leave the reservation “rez” for a day to experience the world outside and participate in an exciting event.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
I think the way this play portrays family relationships is very realistic because they are all one family unit who are related in several different ways. They help each other get through each one’s problems and conflicts within themselves and externally. They all argue a lot throughout the play, and this helps show that even though they do this, they will be there for each other in the end. The image of Nanabush helps strengthen their spirituality and shows that they have each other when in need.